قَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ ءَايَةٌ فِى فِئَتَيْنِ ٱلْتَقَتَا ۖ فِئَةٌ تُقَـٰتِلُ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَأُخْرَىٰ كَافِرَةٌ يَرَوْنَهُم مِّثْلَيْهِمْ رَأْىَ ٱلْعَيْنِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يُؤَيِّدُ بِنَصْرِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرِ 13
Translations
Already there has been for you a sign in the two armies which met [in combat at Badr] - one fighting in the cause of Allāh and another of disbelievers. They saw them [to be] twice their [own] number by [their] eyesight. But Allāh supports with His victory whom He wills. Indeed in that is a lesson for those of vision.
Transliteration
Qad kana lakum ayatun fee fi'atayn iltaqata, fi'atun tuqatilu fee sabeel illah wa-ukhra kafiratun yarawnahum mislayhim ra'y al-'ayn, wa-allahu yu'ayyidu bi-nasrih man yasha, inna fee dhalik la-'ibratun li-ulul-absar
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the Battle of Badr (2 AH), where the Muslims witnessed a miraculous victory despite being outnumbered. The believers saw the disbelievers as twice their number to the naked eye, yet Allah granted victory to the Muslim forces through His divine support. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this ayah demonstrates Allah's power to grant victory not through numbers or material might, but through divine assistance to those fighting in His cause, making it a clear sign (ayah) for those who reflect.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Medina shortly after the Battle of Badr (2 AH), the first major military engagement between Muslims and Quraysh. The context concerns the small Muslim army (approximately 313 believers) who faced a much larger Meccan force, yet achieved victory through divine intervention. The ayah directly addresses the Medinan community to reflect on this miraculous event.
Related Hadiths
The Battle of Badr is extensively documented in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. A relevant hadith is narrated by Ibn Abbas in Sahih Bukhari regarding Allah's concealment of the true numbers of the believers from the disbelievers. Additionally, Sunan Ibn Majah records accounts of the angels' assistance at Badr, supporting the theme of divine aid.
Themes
Key Lesson
True victory comes not from numerical superiority or material resources, but from sincere faith and obedience to Allah. Muslims are encouraged to reflect upon historical instances where the weakest became strongest through reliance on the Divine, providing hope and confidence that moral conviction and spiritual commitment transcend worldly limitations.